Neil Aspinall, known to many as the 'fifth Beatle', has passed away in New York City.

He was 66.

Mr. Aspinall, who lived in England, was receiving treatment for lung cancer at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center when he died.

A school friend of the Beatles' Paul McCartney and George Harrison, Aspinall was the band's first road manager and would drive them to gigs in his van. He later became their personal assistant, and in 1968 was given a management role at Apple Records — The Beatles' own record label.

The BBC reports that despite no musical training, he sang in the chorus of the classic song, Yellow Submarine.

In a joint statement the surviving band members, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, proclaim:

"All his friends and loved ones will greatly miss him, but will always retain the fondest memories of a great man…As a loyal friend, confidant and chief executive, Neil's trusting stewardship and guidance has left a far-reaching legacy for generations to come."

Re: FUCK CHUCK – Fuck you, you big fat piece of shit….
Let me guess, you work for McDonalds, and you rent a basement
appartment….Get a Job, watch the news, can't you tell USA is going
down the tubes……..Go Leafs Go!!!!
and Fuck you!!!!

:-[ this is the worst news, Neil seemed like such a sweet guy. I'm pretty obsessed with the Beatles and I've watched tons and tons of documentaries on them, and they all seemed really tight with each other, Neil and everyone.

So sad. He died of lung cancer…Paul and Ringo would probably be dead right now too if they hadn't stopped smoking. And if John hadn't been shot, he almost certainly would've developed cancer from smoking (if he didn't stop). People this disease is no joke. Stop smoking now! My father died almost nine months to the day after his lung cancer diagnosis. Neil was the fly on the wall in the Beatles dressing rooms, hotel rooms, concerts and recording studio sessions. I would've loved to have heard some of the stories he could tell. RIP Neil.

it contantly amazes me how in tune with the Beatles lives you are. The passing of Neil Aspinall is a huge blow to the last of Apple's core that remains. I can only assume that you are a huge Beatles fan and that is one of the things that keeps me coming back to your site.

For everyone else: Neil Aspinall is one of the only two people in the world who you could call the "fifth" Beatle. It is sad that he is gone and with him the era of loyalty and friendship that no longer exists in the music business.

I was coming on here to tell you that the 5th Beatle WAS BILLY PRESTON (I see others already called you on that)!!!
Where was Billy's shout out when he died last summer?
Dude, this Neil guy didn't even play with the band.
Billy actually received recording credits.

Ally you ppl saying Billy Preston was the 5th beatle he wasnt. Even George Harrison said it was either Derek Taylor or Neil Aspinall. It just you Americans arent happy that the greatest rock band eva did not come from America so hve to claim them as yours! Well ha they come from my city Liverpool! RIP Neil

Another smoker, DEAD AT 66!!!!!!!!!!! Are you smoker's getting the message that maybe smoking isn't quite so cool? And I guarantee you the last ten years from 56 to 66 weren't even worth living… So enjoy your cancer sticks.

Actually, Stuart Sutcliffe was the "Fifth Beatle" and the original bassist. During this time Paul McCartney played rhythm guitar. John Lennon met Stuart at the Liverpool College of Art. He left the band early on to pursue an art degree at the Hamburg College of Art. He also dated and later became engaged to Astrid Kirchherr, who was a photographer that had taken early pictures of The Beatles. Stuart collapsed in an art class in Hamburg and died on the way to the hospital of a brain hemorrhage at the age of 21. Get the facts straight.

YOU STUPID DUMB FUCKERS, HOW DARE YOU SLATE THIS LOVELY BRILLIANT MAN, IF YOU HAD MORE THAN ONE BRAIN CELL OR HAD READ MORE THAN ONE BOOK OR LISTENED TO MORE THAN BRITNEYS GREATEST HITS YOU WOULD KNOW WHO HE IS AND WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR MUSIC HISTORY…..IT ALWAYS AMAZES ME HOW THICK YOU AMERICANS ARE….READ A FUCKING BOOK…AND GET A FUCKING LIFE…

Re: Cha CHa Walters – So what if YOU never heard of him. REAL Beatles fans know who he is. He never said he was the fifth Beatle, but he helped make him who they were, even back in the day when they were trying to get a record deal, he was responsible for helping them get from audition to audition. He was a great man, and a key part of the Beatles success. …and Latoya Jackson the 5th Beatle? Huh? Was that supposed to be funny?

Although Neil wasn't involved with the Beatles musically, he was the only other person that was a part of their inner circle. A mate. The Beatles viewed George Martin and Brian Epstein as "suits" even though Martin, obviously, had a hand in their music. BillyPreston, though an absolutely fabulous musician, only played with the Beatles during the Let It Be sessions. However, there was talk about Billy joining the band. Stu and Pete were members of the band, but before fame. RIP Neil. I just hope he has a book hidden away somewhere that will someday be released, not for scandalous reasons, but for historical.

Re: Chuck – OKAY DUMBASS CHUCK FIRST OF ALL UM YOU MUST BE THE DUMB SHIT WORKING AT MC DONALDS BECASUE YOU ARE CALLING ME FAT AND YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN ME IN YOUR LIFE DUMB SHIT HAHAH AND WHATEVER YOU THINK USA IS GOING DOWN THE TUBES DONT MAKE FUN OF A DEAD PERSON YOU HEARTLESS FOOL.

Thank you, Perez, for posting this about Neil Aspinall. He worked for and with the Beatles for over 40 years in one capacity or another. As for his being the 5th Beatle, everyone from Murry the K, Billy Preston, Mal Evans, etc. has been called that. Stu Sutcliffe was with the Silver Beatles before they changed to Beatles. Pete Best was the first drummer for the Beatles but was fired. There was no 5th Beatle, only 4. Neil was their roadie and then manager of Apple Corp. for almost 40 years. I don't think even he considered himself a 5th Beatle. Just a truly good and loyal friend and business partner. R.I.P. and thank you again, Perez. I don't see this story posted anywhere else.

Wow, Perez, both shocked and delighted you've covered Neil's death and respect the sadness it brings to millions. Thank you. This marks the 2nd or 3rd time that Paul McCartney showing up at a bedside means you're dead in less than 24 hours. He's like the public Grim Reaper ushering Beatles' "family" over to the other side. Horrible job, but bless his soul. And may Neil's soul rest peacefully.

thanks for covering this perez!
neil was with the beatles for their whole career and managed Apple Corps.
it's really sad that he died
:(
and he pretty much was the 5th beatle….he was one of few who were with the beatles the whole time
rest in peace, neil

WHAT A TRAGIC LOSS! THE BEATLES WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT BAND, AND APPLE CORPS A VERY DIFFERENT COMPANY - AND SUCCESS - WITHOUT THE INCOMPARABLE CONTRIBUTION OF CEO AND LONGTIME CONFIDENT AND CLOSE FRIEND, NEIL ASPINALL. WE SHOULD ALL BE GRATEFUL FOR NEIL ASPINALL. IT'S VERY SAD TO SEE SO MANY OF THE BEATLES FAMILY LEAVING US SO SOON.

THE BEATLES THEMSELVES NAMED NEIL ASPINALL "THE 5TH BEATLE." GEORGE HARRISON STATED IT DURING THEIR 1988 INDUCTION CEREMONY INTO THE ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME. NEIL HAD BEEN WITH THE BAND/COMPANY SINCE THEIR (ASPINALL, MC CARTNEY & HARRISON'S) LIVERPOOL SCHOOL DAYS UNTIL JUST 11 MONTHS AGO. NEIL KNEW THE WHOLE INSIDE STORY AND NEVER BETRAYED A WORD.

I would consider George Martin the "5th beatle" before anybody else. I understand why people say Preston is, but the people on this site sound like they are just regurgitating something somebody told them one time.

I must admit, though his name sounds familiar, I can't recall a time when I heard what Aspinall's connection to the Beatles was.

It seems like most people are under the impression that BIlly Preston is the one-and-only who can be called the 5th. I haven't a clue why. They're always so smug about it too. It's like there's a huge group of people who grew up in the 60s and 70s who heard that statement over and over until they knew nothing else. Preston was credited with them once. There are many other logical 5ths. George Martin, Epstein (though he'd never let you say that), Pete Best, Stu Sutcliff, this guy apparently.

How sad for both Paul and Ringo. They have lost so many trusted friends and confidants. I just hope Sir George Martin is with us for many years to come. God bless you Neil, and thanks Perez for nice words about him.

Dammit! This is starting to be like "the no. 2 Al Qaeda was captured today." There are so many of them, ya just don't know. Billy Preston, the great organist, was also know as the "5th Beatle." What gives.

Actually, the "fifth Beatle" was George Martin. He was sometimes called that because of his increasingly essential role in the recording studio in the later 1960s as the Beatles came to attempt more and more sophisticated arrangements and electronic engineering effects on their recordings… Read up on your popular culture people